Lego beats Barbie on sales

Lego has overtaken Barbie doll-maker Mattel as the world’s best-selling toy firm after sales were boosted by products linked to the Lego Movie.

The Danish firm said revenues soared by 11% in the first six months of 2014 to 11.5bn kroner (€1.53bn), marginally higher than the figure reported by its Fisher Price and Matchbox rival last month.

Chief financial officer John Goodwin said: “Lego Movie products provided a significant boost to our sales during the first half of 2014.”